Deck of a ship, so as to render it applicable for use as a life-saving raft.



T. H. SCRIMSHAW.

DECK OF A SHIP 80 AS TO RENDER IT APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A LIFE SAVING RAPE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. I915.

Patented Oct. 10,1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET I llll I IHHI I M I l h I U I I IM Wu 1 1 m: NORRIS PETERS co Pnom-u'mou wAsumcmN, u. c.

T. H. SCRIMSHAW.

DECK OF A SHIP S0 AS TO RENDER IT APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A LIFE SAVING RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 23, I9I5.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

J IL

I I I II WIII, I AQA- a r? N 2.0

ms NHRRJS PETERS m, PHOTOVLITHOH WASNINUI'ON, n. u

r T. H. SCRIMSHAW. DECK OF A SHIP 80 AS TO HENDER IT APPLICABLE FOR USE AS A LIFE SAVING RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 23. 1915.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 1am A Int mmnrs #57517: cm. Puumumo. wasmwmm n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT carton;

TOM HILDRED SCRIMSHAW, 0F LEEDS, ENGLAND.

DECK OF A SHIP, SO AS TO RENDER IT APPLICABLE FOR AS A LIFE-$AVING RAFT.

Application filed November 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TOM HILDRED ScRIM- sHAw, residing at 90 Meadow Lane, Leeds, in the county of York, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to the Decks of Ships, so as to Render Them Applicable for Use as Life- Saving Rafts, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to improvements in or connected with the decks of ocean-going or other ships or vessels of the type in which one or more portions of the decks,with air chambers or compartments fixed thereto,have been available, in cases of emergency, for use as life saving rafts. It is also applicable, as heretofore, to the roofs of deck houses and cabins, and to the captains bridge. Hitherto it has been proposed to form such rafts by constructing the deck of the vessel or part or parts thereof separable therefrom so as to serve as one or more rafts with an upper continuous surface and with a number of airtight compartments secured to, or formed on, the undersurface. The deck planks of each raft are arranged to be fixed upon a stationary rectangular frame with vertical edges, and the raft or rafts tobe secured to the stationary portions of the deck by clamps, or by looking and releasing means operated by worm gearing so that the raft or rafts can, in case of accident, or when occasion requires, be released either separately or simultaneously.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of the said type of raft or rafts, and to combine with its or their chamfered edges means for preventing the edge of the separable portions of the raft becoming wedged or fixed in the opening or openings of the stationary portion or portions of the deck, and for raising the separable raft portion or portions clear of its or their said stationary portion or portions, as well as providing electrically or mechanically controlled and operated locking and releasing means for securing the raft portion or portions in position and releasing it or them separately and simultaneously. The improved apparatus is always ready and under the control of the crew.

This invention consists in the details of the construction hereinafter described and claimed.

According to this invention the prome? Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedflct. 10, 1916.

Serial No. 62,960.

nade and other decks of the vessel, as well as the roofs of the deck houses or cabins, are arranged to be divided, as heretofore, into one or more parts or sections and to be combined with lever apparatus to be hereinafter described whereby they can be readily used in the case of a collision or other emergency as a life saving raft, or rafts, for rescuing the passengers, or keeping them afloat until assistance is to hand.

The platform or main portion of each raft is composed and constructed of the deck boards or roof of the deck cabins or deck houses which are either cut from the decks or roofs, or formed of boards made to fit loosely an opening which is formed for its reception in the said decks or roofs. The boards forming the platform are fixed or secured to a framework, or they may be hinged or jointed together and suitably attached to the framework. The edges of the platform are provided with tapering or chamfered edges to allow of the platform readily becoming free of the opening in the deck, the said edges being lined or protected with strips of non-corrosive metal, such as brass, or copper, or aluminium, or the like for preventing the edges expanding and becoming wedged in the stationary portion of the deck or roof. The edges of the opening in the stationary portion of the deck or roof are chamfered and they may be also similarly lined if so required.

To the underside of the main portion of the raft are fixed by any suitable means a number of air cylinders or chambers. In some cases when air cylinders are employed then they are fixed to the underside of the deck boards at suitable distances apart, and in other cases when, say, air chambers are employed two or more of such chambers may be used, and they are shaped to conform with the shape or contour of the cabin, deck house roof, or other portion of the ship. The number of air cylinders or chambers varies according to the size of the raft, and they are of such a size and number as to make the raft unsinkable and yet sufliciently strong to withstand considerable bufieting to which they may be subjected in the sea.

In two of the sides of the framework of the raft and for a suitable distance from each end inward is arranged a horizontal groove. The raft is arranged to be held in its normal position,that is when it forms a part of the deck or roof,-by one Q m locks or bolts,inclosed in suitable casings or sockets,and acted upon either by electro-magnets or mechanical means, both arranged at, say, for example, but not necessarily so, each of the corners, or at a suitable distance therefrom, or the bolts may be arranged to act in pairs.

The raft is also mounted upon weighted or balance levers which are fixed upon one Figure 1. is a part transverse elevation of a. ship showing this invention applied thereto; Fig. 2. is a part elevation of the same; Fig. 3. is an enlarged part sectional elevation of a portion of a ships deck and the means for raising the raft portion clear thereof; Fig. 4. is an enlarged plan view of the same; Fig. 5. is an enlarged part sectional view of the deck portion of the raft with the air cylinder applied; Fig. 6. is an enlarged elevation of the same drawn at a right angle to Fig. 5; Fig. 7. is an enlarged elevation of the weighted lever employed for raising the raft portion of the deck; Fig. 8. is a plan of same; Fig. 9. is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the locking arrangement applied to the raft portion of the deck; Fig. 10. is an elevation of the same drawn at a right angle to Fig. 9, and with the front plates removed; Fig. 11. is a sectional plan on line A,B,Fig. 9; Fig. 12. is an enlarged part sectional elevation of the raft portion of the deck with the framework and lever for raising the same applied thereto; Fig. 13. is an elevation of the same drawn at a r ght angle to Fig. 12; Fig. 14. is a plan of the underside of Fig. 12.

Like parts in all the views are marked with similar letters of reference.

According to this invention the prome nade or other decks (t. 7) of the vessel, and also the roofs of the deck houses or cabins are arranged to be divided, as heretofore, into one or more parts and to be combined with lever apparatus to be more particularly hereinafter described, whereby in case of collision or other emergency one or more portions of such decks or roofs can be converted into, and used as a life saving raft for rescuing the passengers and crew and for keeping them afloat until assistance is to hand.

The platform or main portion of the raft is in square or rectangular form, and it is composed and constructed of the deck boards 0 or the boards forming the roof of the deck cabins or deck houses, all of which are hereinafter referred to and included in the term the platform 0. The platform 0 in existing ships or vessels can be cut out of the stationary portion 0 of the decks or roofs, but in new vessels a suitable opening can be left in either the deck or the roof, which opening is filled by boards of, say, the same thickness as the boards forming the deck of the vessel, or roof of the cabin or deck house. lVhen desired the boards forming the platform may be hinged or otherwise suitably jointed together.

The platform 0 is provided with inwardly chamfered or tapering edges (Z to which are fixed metal castin s c (Fig. 12). The metal castings a are made of, say, brass or copper, or aluminium or other non-corrosive metal which are fixed thereto by screws or nails, or other suitable means. In some cases the metal edging 0 may be in the form of a strip nailed or screwed, or otherwise fixed to the chamfered or tapering edges (Z of the platform 0. The edge of the opening in the stationary portion 0 of the deck or roof is also chamfered or tapered to correspond with the chamfered edge (Z of the platform 0 and it is also bound with a metal edging f. The metal edge f prevents the platform 0 expanding by wet or moisture and becoming wedged in the opening in the stationary portion 0 of the deck or roof. The said chamfered edges permit of the platform 0 readily freeing itself from the edges of the opening in the deck or roof.

The platform 0 is fixed or secured to the framework 9 which is arranged to pass along either two parallel sides of the platform, or

the four sides thereof. The framework is formed of any suitable material, such as,

say, for example, metal, and in the two sides thereof that are opposite to each other is formed a groove 01' recess h for purposes to be presently described. The groove or recess 72, (Fig. 12) is arranged to extend the full length of the side of the frame, or, when desired, for only a suitable distance from each end thereof. To the underside of the platform 6 are also fixed a number of air cylinders 2' ar *anged as shown at a suitable distance below the underside of the platform and retained in position by the fixing pieces 7' made in two parts (Fig. 6) and secured to the underside of the platform 0. The fixings j run at a right angle to the air cylinder 2', and the fixings are provided with holes through which the air cylinders ?I pass. ()n reference to Fig. 4-. of the drawings it will be seen that there are two fixings 7' for each row of cylinders, and that the said fixings 7' extend nearly the full length of the platform 0.

It will readily be understood that the number of cylinders employed, and also the means of fixing them may be varied according to circumstances and the size of the raft so as to make it unsinkable, and yet sufficiently strong to withstand considerable buffeting to which the raft may be subjected by the sea. Also in some cases instead of employing the cylindrical air cylinders shown, the air cylinders may be arranged in the case of, say, the roof of a deck house or cabin to correspond with the shape or contour of the interior of the house or cabin. The lower portion of the raft below the air cylinders is closed when required with a metal plate or boarding 71; as shown at Fig. 5. To two of the sides 0 of the raft, say, are fixed the plates Z provided with horizontal recesses m formed in the projections m for receiving the bolts n which retain the platform 0,- when it forms a part of the deck or roof, in its normal position. The plates Z are arranged at each corner on the underside of the platform 0 and hang pendantly therefrom and are fixed between platform 0 and the covering plate In, as shown in the en larged views 9 to 11. At Fig. 11 it will be seen that two bolts 91., n are employed for each corner, but this number may be in creased or diminished as occasion requires. The bolts n, n are made to form part of a sliding frame 0 which is arranged to slide in a casing p fixed to the underside of the stationary portion of the deck 0 or roof of the deck house or cabin by means of skeleton framework comprising the brackets q and 1" and angle irons 7' and s. The bracket Q is formed,as shown at Fig. 10,-in the shape of the letter U and its flanges t are turned outward to enable it to be fixed to the angle iron 1. The angle iron 8 is fixed to the bracket r by the bolts or pillars M (Fig. 10).

The frame 0 is shaped as shown at Figs. 9, 10 and 11, and it is made to fit and to freely slide between the walls of the easing 79 which is fixed to the bracket q, see Figs. 9 and 11. At its rear end are provided the flanges 0 against which the outer ends of the flat springs 12, o are arranged to work for keeping the bolts 4% in an outward and locking position. The springs o are fixed by set screws to the rear portion of the casing p, and the springs are arranged above each other with a space between them in order to permit of the bracket 71 being fixed to the rear inner end of the casing. In the front end of the bracket w is mounted an electro magnet 01 the two arms or branches of which by dotted lines at Fig. 3.

short-circuiting. The electromagnet is employed for operating upon the sliding frame 0 whenever it is desired to withdraw the bolts n from the recesses m for releasing the platform 0. The orifice in the front portion of the casing p is closed by a plate 2 which is attached by set screws to the front of the casing and to the angle irons (7. The set screws which are employed for attaching the plate 2 to the front of the casing 79 may be same that are employed for securing the casing 7) to the said angle irons, and the set screws are provided with counter sunk heads. The plates 2 are perforated for the passage of the bolts 72 through them. The sliding frame 0 to which the bolts are attached is moved forward after being acted upon by the electromagnets by the springs 1), o. In addition to the electrical means described for withdrawing the bolts n provision is made for operating the same should the electrical current by any means fail.

The mechanical means consists of the following arrangement of levers and rods :In the front of the sliding frame 0 is formed a recess 3 in which a pendant lever 4 is arranged to work. The pendant lever 4 is pivoted at its upper end to a lug or projection 5 formed for its reception in the casing 29. The lever 4 hangs pendantly in the recess 3 and projects through an opening or slit 6 formed in the lower portion of the said casing 39. In the lever is formed a recess 7 in which is mounted a bowl or runner 8 mounted upon a pin 9. The bowl or runner 8 is arranged to act upon the face of the recess 7 for causing the sliding frame 0 to move inward. The lower end of the rod is attached, by means of a connecting rod 10, to a lever 11 mounted upon a shaft 12 carried in brackets 13 fixed to the casing 70.

The connecting rod is bifurcated at each end for connecting respectively with the levers 4 and 11.

On the shaft 12 is or are mounted and fixed one or more weighted levers 14. A set of casings, shafts, levers 11 and weighted levers 14 are provided at each end 0 of the raft, and one of the levers 11 is prolonged (Fig. 3) to enable its lower end to be connected to an operating lever 15 which projects above the stationary portion 0 of the deck by a rod 16 provided with bifurcated ends. The operating lever 15 is mounted upon one of the shafts 12. On moving the lever 15 in the direction of arrow 1 (Fig. 3) the sliding frames 0 will be simultaneously caused to move in their casings p for withdrawing the bolts out of contact with the recesses m so as to permit of the platform a, or main portion of the raft, being raised into the position shown As soon as the bolts n are withdrawn from the recesses the raft will be raised by the double ended weighted levers 17, which are fulcrumed on the pin 18 carried by the bracket 19 fixed to a stationary portion of the deck in a line with the frame 9 on the sides thereof in which is formed the recesses it. On the shorter and un-weighted end of lever 17 is fixed a pin 20 on which is mounted so as to revolve freely a runner or bowl 21 which works in the recess it. Two of the weighted levers 17 are provided on each side of the raft in which are formed the recesses it, and they are arranged to run parallel with the framework 9, the inner ends of the levers upon which the runners 21 are mounted being inclined inward to facilitate the engagement of the runner with the upper portion of the recess it. As soon as the platform 0 and parts connected therewith have been raised clear of the stationary portion 0 of the deck the raft is free to be fioated,when the vessel is sinking,by the inrushing water, and by there being no bottom projecting flange to the recess 72, the water can raise the raft clear of the levers and runners 21, or cause the raft to float in a horizontal direction until the raft is clear of the levers and projections. The weights on the lever 17 are arranged so as to keep the raft well above the opening in the stationary portion of the deck.

It will readily be understood that when electrical means are employed for withdrawing the bolts n and operating thesliding frame 0, then a number of rafts could be released simultaneously.

'Ihe raft when in its normal position rests upon the chamfered edges of the platform 0 and the opening in the deck, and when desired it may be arranged to rest upon suitable brackets,not shown in the drawings, formed for its reception below the ordinary deck, such brackets being arranged that the bolts 9?. will readily pass into their sockets provided in the plates Z. When required, but not necessarily so, the platform may be provided, as hitherto, with detachable railings or bulwarks,not shown in the drawings, on its upper surface.

What I claim is 1. In a life saving raft for use on ships, the combination of a platform composed of boards secured together, said platform having chamfered and metal lined edges, a framework upon which the platform is mounted and fixed and having grooves formed in two of its parallel sides, a plurality of air cylinders fixed to the underside of the platform, and means for retaining it in position and releasing and raising it clear of the ships deck.

2. In a life saving raft for use on ships, the combination of a ships deck having an open-ing formed therein, the walls of the opening being chamfered in an upward direction and edged with a non-corrosive metal, a platform composed of boards having chamfered and metal lined edges adapted to fit said opening, framework upon which the platform is mounted and fixed having grooves in two of its parallel sides, a plurality of air cylinders fixed to the n11- derside of the platform within the framework, and means for raising the raft clear of the deck comprising weighted levers having bowls mounted upon their ends adapted to work in the grooves of the framework as set forth.

3. In a life saving raft for use on ships, the combination of a ships deck having an opening formed therein, the walls of the said opening being upwardly chamfered and edged with strips of non-corrosive metal, a platform composed of boards secured together adapted to fit said opening, and having its chamfered edges lined with strips of non-corrosive metal, framework upon which the platform is fixed having horizontal grooves formed in two of its parallel sides, a plurality of air chambers fixed to the underside of the platform, a pair of weighted levers fixed to a stationary portion of the deck contiguous to each grooved side of the framework, each of said levers having a bowl mounted upon one of its ends adapted to work in the said grooves, bolts for retaining the platform within the opening, and means for withdrawing the bolts, comprising shafts, weighted and other levers, connecting rods, and an actuating lever,-all of said means being supported from the underside of the ships deck, as set forth.

4. In a life saving raft for use on ships, the combination of a ships deck having an opening therein, the walls of said opening being chamfered in an upward direction and lined with metal, a platform formed of boards secured together adapted to fit said opening and having chamfered and metal lined edges, a framework upon which the platform is fixed having horizontal grooves in two of its parallel sides, means for retaining the platform within the opening comprising skeleton framework fixed to the underside of the stationary portion of the deck, casings carried by said skeleton framework, a recessed frame sliding within each casing, having bolts projecting therefrom and through the casing at one end, and inturned flanges at its opposite end, springs acting against said flanges for retaining the bolts in their outward position, a pendent plate fixed to the underside of the platform hav ing recesses therein for receiving each set of bolts, electrical means, comprising electromagnets arranged within the casing for withdrawing the bolts from the recesses in the said plates, cables for energizing the magnets, and means described for raising the platform after the bolts are withdrawn, as set forth.

5. In a life saving raft for use on ships, the combination of a platform formed of boards secured together and having chamfered metal lined edges, a framework upon which the platform is fixed having horizontal grooves formed in two of its parallel sides, a casing fixed to the underside of sta-.

tionary portion of the ships deck opposite to each corner of the platform, pendent plates corresponding in number to the casing and having recesses formed therein, said plates being fixed to the underside of the platform, a spring controlled recessed frame sliding within each casing, and having a number of bolts proj ecting therefrom adapted to fit into the recesses of a pendent plate, electro-magnets arranged within the first casing for withdrawing the bolts, and springs for propelling them outward as set forth.

6. In a life saving raft for use on ships, the combination of a ships deck having an opening therein, a platform adapted to fit said opening, a framework to which the platform is fixed having horizontal grooves formed in two of its parallel sides, a plurality of spring controlled bolts fixed to the underside of the stationary portion of the ships deck opposite to the corners of the platform, said bolts being operated as occasion requires by electrical and mechanical means, and pendent plates fixed to the underside of the platform and having recesses formed therein with which the bolts engage, each of said bolts being fixed to a frame, a casing in which the said frame slides, electro-magnets for withdrawing the bolts, springs for propelling them outward, said mechanical means comprising shafts, weighted and pendant levers, connecting rods, and an actuating lever and brackets for supporting them irom the underside of the ships deck, as set orth.

TOM HILDRED SCRIMSHAWV.

Witnesses:

W. FAIRBURN HART, ALICE TURNER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

